We had a Pitch to give to a panel of mentors, saying what our idea was and they would then choose who to go to, to give feedback. I was the person speaking on behalf of our team and I felt I did a good job, I was loud and clear, which helped us get Luke and Ruth, who were very helpful.

Luke (Welcome Org)

Luke knows the streets. He works with the homeless every day, so his advice was very practical.

• Prison Differences: Maghaberry has a basic physical pack, but Hydebank (women/young offenders) doesn't really. We need to tailor the packs, women need clean underwear/hygiene men on remand might be released straight from court with zero warning.
• The Needle Issue: He suggested a "needle pack" for harm reduction. It’s controversial because it looks like encouraging drug use, but the Public Health Agency would likely fund it to save lives.
• Sourcing stuff: Don’t bother with bulky blankets they get wet and binned. Focus on socks, coats, and underwear. Get prisoners to build the packs themselves—it gives them a job and a bit of money (£5 is a lot in there).
• Supply Chain: Reach out to local supermarkets (Tesco), food banks, and small community groups. The public sector has no money (even for colour printing), so we have to be resourceful.

Dr Ruth Grey

Ruth looked at the thinking side of the project, how people actually use the info.

• The Trust Gap: Most prisoners don't trust prison officers. They trust honest brokers like healthcare staff or peer mentors.
• Information Exchange: Giving someone a bag of paper isn't enough. Many have literacy issues or find the digital world overwhelming after being inside.
• The "Departure Lounge": Instead of just a hand-off at the gate, there should be a space (a transition centre) where they can actually talk to someone about housing and GP registration before they walk out.
• The Destination: A pack for someone going home should be different from a pack for someone going to a hostel or the streets. We need to map where they go the second they leave.

Answers to our Question: We're unsure about who would be able to provide resources such as a clothing, healthcare, printing brochure, We would love to hear if there are any resources, charities, warehouses would work with us and create items for the packs

1. Who makes them? The prisoners. It’s an activity, they get paid, and it takes the burden off staff.
2. Who pays? Public Health Agency (for health/needles), charities, and local donations.
3. Key items: Focus on the "Big 3"—GP, Benefits, Housing. Anything else is just noise.